Every Magic player builds a healthy list of regrets over the course of their career. Whether it was a critical misplay in a big spot, a bad deck choice for a Pro Tour, or a card you underestimated and didn’t buy in early, we all make mistakes.
One of my biggest Magic regrets is not playing U/B Faeries when it was a dominant deck in Block Constructed and Standard. The deck was incredibly powerful, and as I’ve come to learn over time, plays to my strengths as a player in terms of role assessment, efficient sequencing, and tricky combat scenarios.
So when the deck was released back into Modern with the unbanning of Bitterblossom, I was hopeful it would be an opportunity to correct my mistake. So far it hasn’t turned out that way, but I’ll never say never and will always look at innovative takes on the archetype, which is what I have for you today.
Faeries is traditionally a U/B deck, but today’s list is more U/W with a splash of black for the ubiquitous Bitterblossom and a couple copies of Fatal Push to supplement the more versatile Path to Exile. White also gives you access to Spell Queller, which is about as close to a Faerie as you can get without actually being a Faerie. It has flash and flying, a big enough body to pressure the opponent, and comes with a built-in counterspell. It’s exactly what this archetype wants to be doing, and hopefully your many counterspells can adequately defend it, though if not, the brief tempo advantage is still great for the deck, if only to give you time to establish a clock.
Beyond Queller, white gives you some powerful options to catch up from behind in Supreme Verdict and Settle the Wreckage. Faeries has traditionally struggled with decks that put it under the gun quickly and don’t give it a chance to turn the corner, but these cards can completely turn even hopeless game states around.
The strain on the mana is a real factor, and even if the colors work you’re certainly taking more damage from your lands than a traditional build, which is worrisome for a deck that has historically won many games on tight margins, but I like where this list is going with the new color. It’s clear at this point that U/B lists aren’t getting it done. If I’m going to have any hope of righting my past wrong, it’s time to try something different.
Creatures (12)
Planeswalkers (3)
Lands (24)
Spells (21)
